It might seem like only yesterday that your baby first started crawling, but in fact, he/she is now a source of energy, always on the move.

BABIES EXPLORE SAFELY AND GROW UP HAPPY

(In the house and kitchen)

It might seem like only yesterday that your baby first started crawling, but in fact, he/she is now a source of energy, always on the move. You can be sure that he/she will do anything in his/her power to display his/her newly acquired skills in crawling and walking. Allow him/her his/her freedom on the road to discovery. Let him/her climb up, roll down and continue his/her development without any barriers. You can ensure his/her safety without limiting his/her freedom of movement.

Measures oriented to 5 senses

Your baby is full of enthusiasm to discover everything in the house by using her 5 senses. There is no problem when these concern the foods she can taste, items lying around waiting for her touch or flowers that she can sniff. However, there are also things that you should keep away from her 5 senses. To give an example, you can grow house plants that are not toxic or contain similar hazards. You can keep things that could be hazardous to your child, such as batteries, medicine, lighters, matches, knives, scissors, pins, change, nails, glass articles, plastic bags, etc., out of her reach.

Be aware of capable hands!

After turning one, the hand and feet dexterity of your baby will improve. As a precaution against the things he/she can do with his/her improved capabilities, you can install vent sashes and child locks on your windows, plug the night light in an outlet out of his/her reach, cover the plugs not in use with protective lids and place the easy to remove plugs into sockets he/she cannot reach.

It would improve safety if you gather the power cables that are constantly used either behind furniture or at places that your child cannot reach, or use means including cable clamps to hide away cables and also remove the cables of small appliances such as toasters, blow dryers and similar from the plug when these are not in use.

The following are some of the precautions you can take regarding large pieces of furniture in your house: You can install special child safety locks on drawers, cupboard lids, oven and stove top buttons and fridge, and dish washer lids. You can use door guards to prevent doors closing on your child’s fingers. You should always make sure to lock the door to your house. It will keep your baby safe if you anchor large pieces of furniture like bookshelves and glass cabinets to the wall, if possible, and place the TV set and similar items in a manner to prevent them from toppling over.

Kitchen and Dinner Table Safety

Keeping hot drinks and meals away from your baby and placing plates containing hot food items in the middle of the table rather than the sides would be a good choice. Take care to keep your baby away from the stove top when cooking food and place the handles away from the sides of the stove top.

Make sure that the table cloth is placed to prevent your baby from pulling it down in all her exuberance. You can eliminate this/her hazard by using place mats instead of a table cloth.

Regardless of how comfortable and calm your baby may appear seated in her highchair, it would be best to take the necessary measures and not leave her alone when she is in the highchair. 

For further suggestions regarding safety measures you can check our recommendations for age groups 6-12 months and older than 24 months.